Joe Biden lunches with Hunter in Delaware restaurant days after Congress votes to pursue impeachment probe attempting to link president to son’s shady business dealings
President Joe Biden had lunch with his son Hunter in Wilmington on Monday, days after Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry as they tried to link the president to his son's shady business dealings .
Three generations of Bidens — Hunter brought son, baby Beau — dined with friends at Rocco Italian Grill & Sports Bar, the White House said.
Earlier, the extended Biden family, including first lady Jill Biden, daughter Ashley and Hunter's wife Melissa Cohen, attended a private church service to mark the deaths of Biden's first wife Neilia and daughter Naomi.
Hunter and the president also stopped at a jewelry store Monday while in Delaware.
Hunter's central focus has made some current and former White House aides nervous, especially as Biden faces a tough reelection fight.
Hunter Biden (left) and baby Beau Biden (right) leave lunch with President Joe Biden at Rocco Italian Grill & Sports Bar in Wilmington, Delaware
President Joe Biden leaves the Rocco Italian Grill & Sports Bar in Wilmington on Monday after having lunch there with his son and grandson, as well as some friends, the White House said
Hunter Biden is led back into a waiting black SUV by Secret Service agents after he and President Joe Biden visited a jewelry store in Wilmington on Monday
Last week, Hunter rejected a congressional subpoena from House Republicans and instead issued a statement to the press outside the Senate chamber.
He said he would testify about his business deals at a public hearing, but not behind closed doors as House Republicans have ordered.
“For six years, MAGA Republicans, including members of the House committees currently behind closed doors, have questioned my character, violated my privacy, attacked my wife, my children, my family and my friends,” he said. .
“They have ridiculed my battle with addiction, they have belittled my recovery and they have attempted to dehumanize me, all to embarrass and damage my father, who has dedicated his entire public life to service,” the youngster continued Biden.
“For six years I have been the target of Trump's relentless attack machine screaming, 'Where's Hunter?' Well, here's my answer: I'm here,” he added. 'Let me say as clearly as possible: my father was not financially involved in my company, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with the Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home and abroad and certainly not as an artist.'
Hunter admitted, “At the depths of my addiction, I was extremely irresponsible with my finances.”
“But to suggest that this is grounds for an impeachment inquiry is beyond absurd,” he said.
President Joe Biden puts on his signature aviator sunglasses as he walks to the waiting motorcade after the departing luncheon in Wilmington on Monday
“It's shameless,” he added.
Then, Hunter gave an interview to Axios in which he said, “The Trump cult is obsessed with me.”
“I feel like I have two equal responsibilities now,” he continued. “The first is staying clean and sober, and the second is defending my father. My mistakes are in spite of him – not a reflection of him. And that is why I must call out their lies as loudly and as often as possible in the future.”
Axios also reported that Hunter's strategy has created tension between his team and the White House
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki discussed this publicly on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday.
“Look, I think if you're in the White House right now, you're like, 'Here you go, Hunter Biden. We know your father loves you. Please stop talking in public,'” Psaki said. “It doesn't do any good for any of them for him to be out there.”